Editor‘s Comment Publisher: Elizabeth Shorten Associate publisher: Nicholas McDiarmid Editor: Frances Ringwood Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Head of design: Beren Bauermeister Design consultant: Frédérick Danton Designer: Ramon Chinian Chief sub-editor: Tristan Snijders Sub-editor: Morgan Carter Contributors: Linda Godfrey, Beatrix Knopjes, Anton Nahman, Suzan Oelofse, Wilma Strydom & Chris Whyte Client services & production manager: Antois-Leigh Botma Production coordinator: Jacqueline Modise Financial manager: Andrew Lobban Marketing specialist: Philip Rosenberg Digital marketing manager: Esther Le Roux Distribution manager: Nomsa Masina Distribution coordinator: Asha Pursotham Administrator: Tonya Hebenton Printers: United Litho Johannesburg Tel: +27 (0)11 402 0571 Advertising sales: Tazz Porter Tel: +27 (0)11 465 5452 Cell: +27 (0)82 318 3908 tazz@connect.co.za
Publisher: No.4, 5th Avenue Rivonia, 2191 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Share Call: 086 003 3300 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 www.3smedia.co.za Annual subscription: subs@3smedia.co.za R200.00 (incl VAT) South Africa ISSN 1680-4902 The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa Tel: +27 (0)11 675 3462 Email: iwmsa@telkomsa.net All material herein is copyright-protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, editor or The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa, but those of the author or other contributors under whose name contributions may appear, unless a contributor expresses a viewpoint or opinion in his or her capacity as an elected office bearer of a company, group or association. © Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
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From the ground up
T
HE MAY EDITION of ReSource throws light on those parts of resource conser vation typically regarded as more esoteric, such as green buildings, cleaner production, and soil conser vation. While these may appear less crucial to core concerns of creating landfill space, solid waste management, and logistics, it is actually through these peripheral concerns that the biggest impacts can be achieved.
Soil Managing soil as a resource has massively contributed to reducing waste to landfill, creating green jobs, stimulating the green economy, and prevents groundwater contamination at landfills. The ar ticle ‘Food waste for worms’ on page 26 looks at beneficiation of food waste using worm excrement – or vermicompost, as it’s known in polite company. Healthier crop yields produced via this method has been successfully shown to encourage entrepreneurs to sell or use valuable ‘worm wine’ either as individuals or collectives. The value of soil as a resource doesn’t stop there – it can also be used as an environmentally friendly building material! In the stor y ‘Hammarsdale’s tool for change’ on page 20, USE-IT managing director Chris Whyte describes how the main building of the Hammarsdale waste beneficiation centre is going to be constructed using compressed-ear th blocks, from available soils and recycled rubble. The product’s advantage over cement and brick blocks is that it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by between 50% and 80%.
Water This month’s Green Buildings feature looks these and other methods for counteracting water scarcity through buildings in Southern Africa. Morevover, Water scarcity and a consequent focus on better wastewater treatment and recycling have inspired a number novel thinkers to look beyond the liability of wastewater to a future where even wet waste becomes an asset, this is one of the primar y concerns driving a ‘Waste-to-Energy breakthrough’ described on page 31.
Energy Also concerning waste-to-energy, ‘Biogas fuels a revolution’ on page 30 demonstrates how a local company is capable of recovering as much as 50% of a sewage treatment plant’s energy needs from methane. As the need for increased energy efficiency in South Africa continues, local suppliers and scientific institutions are promoting the development of new methods for conver ting both wet and solid waste into energy. These technologies will not only contribute towards reducing landfill use and making wastewater treatment footprints more hygienic, they are also likely to save municipalities a great deal on the electric bill.
Frances Ringwood ReSource May 2015 – 5